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Jim Davis/Globe Staff
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady led his team out for the start of the game accompanied by fireworks.
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Elise Amendola/associated press
New England Patriots Minutemen actors fired rifles during the first quarter.
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Jim Davis/Globe Staff
Patriots running back Stevan Ridley picked up a first quarter first down as the Texans' Glover Quin tried to bring him down.
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Jim Davis/Globe Staff
Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker made a nice acrobatic catch of a pass from Tom Brady (not pictured) that was good for 25 yards and gave New England the ball at the Houston 4-yard line.
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Matthew J. Lee/Globe staff
The Patriots' Brandon Lloyd celebrated his 37-yard touchdown reception against the Houston Texans during first quarter.
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Jim Davis/Globe Staff
Texans quarterback Mat Schaub (8) was sacked by Patriots DL Rob Ninkovich in the first quarter.
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Matthew J. Lee/Globe staff
New England's Vince Wilfork (bottom right) forced Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub to fumble during the first quarter.
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Matthew J. Lee/Globe staff
The Patriots' Aaron Hernandez recovered a Stevan Ridley fumble in front of the Texans' Kareem Jackson and Darryl Sharpton during first quarter action.
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Jared Wickerham/Getty Images
Tight end Aaron Hernandez (81) of the New England Patriots and safety Glover Quin of the Houston Texans went up for the ball in the first half.
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Jared Wickerham/Getty Images
Quarterback Matt Schaub wiped his face in the first half.
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Jessica Rinaldi /REUTERS
Wes Welker (right) broke away from Houston Texans safety Quintin Demps during the first half.
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Jim Davis/Globe Staff
Brandon Lloyd was wide open as he hauled in a 37 yard touchdown pass from Tom Brady (left, pictured as they celebrated the score together) for the second New England score of the game.
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Matthew J. Lee/Globe staff
The Patriots' Kyle Arrington broke up a pass intended for the Texans' Lestar Jean during first quarter.
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Matthew J. Lee/Globe staff
Jerod Mayo stopped the Texans' Arian Foster for no gain as his teammate Rya Harris lost his helmet during the second half.
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Steven Senne/associated press
Patriots safety Steve Gregory broke up a pass intended for Texans wide receiver Lestar Jean, top, during the second quarter.
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Jim Davis/Globe Staff
The Patriots' third touchdown came whenTom Brady hit Aaron Hernandez with a quick pass, and Hernandez sidestepped Texans defender Danieal Manning and walked into the end zone for a tocuhdown.
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Matthew J. Lee/Globe staff
New England's Aquib Talib broke up a pass intended for Houston's Andre Johnson during second-quarter action.
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Jim Davis/Globe Staff
After Patriots wide receiver Donté Stallworth beat Texans defender Brandon Harris, left, he hauled in a pass from quarterback Tom Brady (not pictured), eluded out defenders, and dived into the end zone for a touchdown.
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Jim Rogash/Getty Images
Tom Brady of the New England Patriots ran the ball for a first down against the Houston Texans in the second half.
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Jim Davis/Globe Staff
Texans fullback James Casey was flipped by the Patriots' Devin McCourty, but not before he picked up a 30-yard gain on a pass from quarterback Matt Schaub (not pictured) that gave Houston a first and goal at the New England 2-yard line and set up the Texans’ first touchdown of the game.
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Elise Amendola/associated press
Donté Stallworth dived into the end zone while dragging Houston Texans defensive back Quintin Demps, right, after a catch and run during the third quarter.
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Elise Amendola/associated press
Stallworth caught a pass in front of Houston Texans defensive back Brandon Harris before running it in for a touchdown during the third quarter.
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Jim Davis/Globe Staff
After scrambling to pick up a first down on the final play of the third quarter, an animated Tom Brady got up and howled as he demonstrably signaled first down himself.
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Matthew J. Lee/Globe staff
New England's Dont'a Hightower stopped Houston Texans running back Ben Tate during fourth quarter.
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Matthew J. Lee/Globe staff
New England's Brandon Lloyd recovered teammate Danny Woodhead's fumble in the end zone for a touchdown against the Houston Texans during fourth quarter.
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Jim Davis/Globe Staff
After the Patriots' Stevan Ridely scored a fourth quarter touchdown, he and fellow running backs Brandon Bolden, Danny Woodhead, and Shane Vereen (right) did a celebratory jump together.
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Matthew J. Lee/Globe staff
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick waved to fans after the 42-14 victory over the Houston Texans.
